Day 2 of I/ITSEC 2017 was filled with many conversations centered around the future of training and harnessing new technologies in a complex world.
Keynote Highlights
The morning kicked off with Opening Ceremonies and the General/Flag Officer panel. During the morning sessions, industry and service leaders shared insights about the future of training, the importance of collaboration, cooperation, and how stronger relationships will secure a place for the military in the age of information.
Gen. David Perkins, Commanding General for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), highlighted counterproductive overhead as one of the top challenges for implementing effective training programs, stating, “Training needs to be seen as a tool, not a task.” He expanded on his thoughts on the “tyranny of training” and what hurdles are deterring innovation across service branches.
One of these important hurdles is the blurred lines between educating and training warfighters; they are starting to become one in the same, with each dependent on the other for successful mission preparation and knowledge retention.
The industry keynote speaker, CEO and Co-founder of Raydon Don Ariel, touched on similar sentiments when it comes to making the future of training successful. Specifically, Ariel strongly urged industry leaders to set aside the traditional industry value of technology ownership and work more closely with industry peers to create something amazing for end users.
“We cooperate or we die,” he stated bluntly in his address this morning. This approach of standardization and open platforms is how industry will help pull the military out of the industrial age and into the age of information.
Ariel equally encouraged the service side of the relationship to reward valuable, effective products and services through acquisition. That acquisition is what drives innovation in the industry forward and will be what promises increasingly better solutions for all in the future.
Important Industry News Announcements
In addition to the services panel sessions, industry made several announcements at I/ITSEC including:
- Rockwell Collins and CAE announced a collaborative agreement to develop integrated Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) training solutions to show that industry can work together and create collaborative environments. According to their press release, “The demonstration at I/ITSEC will showcase how synthetic environments built on different database standards can be correlated and interoperate as part of an integrated LVC training exercise.”
Raytheon brings next generation of training technology to I/ITSEC 2017
- At this year’s I/ITSEC, Raytheon is focused on the importance of cybersecurity at booth 1036. From training cyber warriors anywhere at anytime in the upcoming federated online environment, to preparing customers for the next generation of cyber threats from every angle.
CM Labs Partners with BISim to Demonstrate Vortex Studio Integration with VBS3 and MARIN to demonstrate a unique small watercraft Simulation at I/ITSEC
- CM Labs Simulations announced that at booth 1620 I/ITSEC attendees will have the opportunity to drive an LAV III vehicle powered by Vortex Studio, embedded in a distributed VBS3 solution from Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim). According to their press release, CM Labs CCO Arnold Free elaborated on advantages that the technology offers for customers like the U.S. Army, stating, “Effective driver training programs can now be up and running in a fraction of the time, with none of the headaches typically associated with disparate technology integrations.”
- CM Labs Simulations also announced that at booth 1620 I/ITSEC attendees will have the opportunity to experience a unique fast small watercraft simulation designed for training applications, a particularly challenging simulation to create. In the press release, Noel Bovens, Manager, Maritime Simulation at CM Labs explained how their high fidelity solution addresses unique simulation challenges for the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) “ranging from full-mission bridge simulators, to offshore anchor-handling and combined vessel / heavy-lift operations.” He added, “It simply complements our mandate to provide innovations for the maritime sector.”